Shinobi (A Katana Novel) (20 page)

31

N
o.” Kim gently pulled free from my grip and took a step backward. “You’re wrong. You haven’t given it enough time to work.”

“Let’s all take a deep breath.” Dr. Wendell raised his hand. “If we calm down, I’m sure we’ll figure this out.”

I sank to my knees and stared at my unconscious body—the body that was no longer mine. Blond hair I would never brush again splashed across lips that would never again kiss Kim. Hands with green fingernails, which I’d painted only days ago, rested on the floor.

A sob bubbled up in my throat. I quickly swallowed it before it could escape. Turning away, I pressed my fingers against my lips for extra insurance.

“Rileigh?” Quentin held out a hand. I accepted and he pulled me to my feet. “What do you need? What can I do?”

“Nothing.” My voice came out flat. “If you can’t put me back inside my body, there’s absolutely nothing you can do.”

“Is that true?” Kim asked. “Is there really
nothing
you can do?”

Quentin shrugged helplessly. “I’m a healer. My powers affect the body only. To affect a soul, you would need … ”

“Ki powers,” I offered.

Kim’s eyes widened. “But you no longer have—”

“My ki powers. I know.” I shook my head sadly. “So it’s true. There’s nothing to be done.”

“Don’t say that,” Dr. Wendell said. “This isn’t the end of the world. Yes, losing your body is horrendous—but you’re alive. Isn’t that enough?”

“Enough?” I looked at him as the first hot, angry tear trailed down my cheek. “I just turned eighteen. I didn’t
just
lose my body. I lost my life!”

Dr. Wendell opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “Don’t
you get it? I had plans to go to school. And with Kim back,
maybe we could have traveled … or do whatever college-aged kids do. But now I’m trapped inside the body of a girl wanted for
murder.
No matter what, I’m going to spend the rest of my life in a cell.”

“No.” He shook his head. “I’ll make sure of that. After I explain the situation to the Network, they’ll make sure the charges disappear. After all, what good is a secret government agency if they can’t rig a murder trial?” He gave a lame attempt at a smile.

“All right.” I folded my arms across my chest. “Let’s say your stupid Network—which has made my life a living hell these last forty-eight hours, by the way—gets me off the hook. Then what? What life can I go back to? What about my—” I choked back a sob and exhaled before I could finally form the word. “Mom? Am I just supposed to show up looking like this?” I thrust my arms outward. “And expect her to believe I fell asleep one day and woke up in another body? What are you going to tell her about her daughter?”

Dr. Wendell’s mouth opened and closed several times as he appeared to search for an answer—an answer I knew he didn’t have because there
was
no answer.

Q squeezed my shoulder. “We’ll figure it out one thing at a time.”

“Will we?” An edge of hysteria crept into my voice. “Let’s make a list. Right now I’m trapped inside a murderer’s body, I no longer have my ki powers, and
this
”—I pulled at the tank top I wore—“is the only outfit I own. And let’s not forget I no longer have a place to live.”

“That’s not true.” Kim grabbed my arm and turned me around.

I tilted my chin so I could meet his eyes.

“As long as you breathe air, you have a home—with me.”

“What?” I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. “You can’t be serious. I’m wearing the face of our worst enemy.”

He pulled me toward him, shaking his head. “When are
you going to realize I don’t care about things like that? I don’t care what face you’re wearing. I love
you
, Senshi. Not for what you look like, but for the way you make me feel when I’m with you. You’ve taught me that every death, every life has a purpose. And no matter how many times I’m brought back to this planet, no matter how many bodies or lives pass between us, the familiarity that is you—that is
us
—will always be the wind that guides me to where you are.”

He lifted a hand to my face and trailed his thumb down my cheek. “We can leave if you want. If this is too much, we can go. Forget this life. Let’s pack our bags—tonight—and make a new one.”

I brought my hand to his, as if to make sure this wasn’t a dream. Could I really do it? Could I leave everything I’d always known and run away with him? I chewed the inside of my cheek as I considered his offer. After all, with my life stolen, what did I have to stay for?

“Kim, let’s not do anything hasty.” Dr. Wendell approached us with a frown. “We need you here. The Network—”

Kim turned away from me with a scowl. “Screw the Network!”

Dr. Wendell’s eyes fluttered wide as he took a step back.

“Lord Toyotomi was right,” Kim continued, turning back to me. “We sacrificed everything as warriors. And what has it brought us? Only death and suffering.” He shook his head. “I’m beaten, and I’m so tired. I can no longer remember what I’ve been fighting for—but I’m pretty sure it’s not what I
should
be fighting for.”

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. “What’s that?”

“Us. I’ve forgotten to fight for us.”

My chest tightened, making breathing nearly impossible. I opened my mouth to speak but found I couldn’t get the words out.

“So what do you think?” He placed his other hand on my face and drew me closer so I could feel the heat of him radiating through my clothes. “Will you leave with me? Will you fight
for us?”

I placed my hands over his and, for the first time in nearly two days, I felt at peace. Kim was right. We’d wasted too much time fighting. We’d lost so much. Didn’t we deserve this, finally? “Yes,” I answered.

He grinned. “Say it again.”

I laughed. “Yes. Let’s leave this all behind us.”

He drew me closer until his face eclipsed the room and all that remained was him, me, and the kiss that had survived five hundred years.

32

K
im?” Dr. Wendell’s voice brought me back to the dojo.
“Are
you sure this is wise? What about your work at the
dojo?”

Kim slid an arm around my waist. “Drew can take over. Or Michelle. Or Braden.” He shrugged. “Or close the damn thing. I don’t really care.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I’d never heard him speak so flippantly about his work.

“But don’t you think the others will be upset?” Dr. Wendell crossed his arms over his chest. “They depend on you. How can you leave them behind?”

A muscle in Kim’s jaw tightened as he raised his chin. “We’re not in Japan anymore,” he answered. “They do not need a leader. Maybe our absence will be a good thing for them.” He shook his head. “I can’t help but wonder if we’ve kept on as samurai because it’s all we’ve known. But now … ” He shrugged. “They are free to follow their own paths.”

“But they’re your friends.”

“We’ll visit.”

Dr. Wendell sighed and rubbed his face. “Look, it’s not that I don’t think you’re capable of making your own decisions, but I do think you might be entering into this a little rashly.”

Quentin’s mouth quirked into a sad smile, and I felt the first stab of sorrow through my joy. “You have to do what you have to do,” he told me. “I only want you to be happy. But if you leave—I’ll miss you like crazy.”

“I know.” I gently slid free from Kim’s arms and fell
against Quentin. He quickly enveloped me in his arms.

“You’re my best friend,” he whispered against the top of my head. “And you’ll always be—no matter where you are or what you look like.”

I pulled back, half-laughing as fresh, hot tears trailed down my cheeks. “Ditto. I promise I’ll call or email as soon as we get … ” I looked up at Kim, who only shrugged. I laughed. “Wherever it is we’re going.”

“You better.” Q gave me another squeeze before slowly backing away.

“Of course.”

Kim pointed to what used to be my body, still unmoving on the floor. “When the Network arrives, make sure they lock her up—and keep her locked up this time.”

Dr. Wendell nodded. “You know we will.” He was quiet a moment. “The other samurai are supposed to be here soon. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather wait to see them—to say a proper goodbye?”

“No.” Kim shook his head. “It’s time to finally start our lives. I know the others will understand when you explain it to them. Tell them I’ll get in contact as soon as we get settled. If they decide to follow, they’re welcome to join us.” He nodded at Quentin. “That goes for you, too, but it also means you can’t tell anyone where you’re going. If she somehow gets free again”— he motioned to Sumi—“I don’t want to risk the chance of being found.”

Quentin nodded. “I appreciate that. I’ll let you know.”

Kim looked at me, an eagerness in his eyes I hadn’t seen in a long time. “Are you ready?”

Was I? Was I ready to walk away from everything I’d ever known—my life? My friends? My family? Just to finally be with the man I’d loved for almost five hundred years?

Oh, hell yeah.

But there was one thing still left unsettled. A bugging sensation wiggling inside my stomach. “My mom … ”

Kim frowned. “I know you want to say goodbye. I understand—but she won’t recognize you.”

“I know.” I nodded. “It’s not that.” I turned away from him and gave a pointed look to Dr. Wendell. “You have to take care of her. You owe me that.”

He was quiet a moment before clearing his throat. “Rileigh, listen. I’m your handler—well, at least I was. And that meant part of my job was to keep a close eye on you.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “At first, my interest in your mother was strictly business-minded. I saw her as an opportunity to get closer to you.”

A small flame of anger flickered inside me. Reflexively, my fingers curled into fists. “Go on.”

He sighed. “I just want you to know that after I got to know your mother, I’ll admit I did fall for her. She’s a remarkable woman, Rileigh—amazing, really. Just like her daughter.”

The flame inside of me extinguished and my fingers uncurled.

“You should know,” he continued, “that I care for your mother a great deal. And I will look after her as long as she’ll have me around.”

The knot of anxiety inside me loosened. After my grandmother died, I was the only real family my mother had. I had no idea what Dr. Wendell would tell her about me—but I hated to think she’d have to suffer alone. At least I could leave now with the comfort that she’d be looked after by someone who genuinely cared for her. “Thank you,” I said.

He nodded. “You should also know that, even though the two of us haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, I’ve also grown to care about you a great deal.” He sucked in a shaking breath. “I’m going to miss you.” He lifted a finger and pointed it at Kim. “And I want to know when you’ve arrived safely … well, wherever
you go. Don’t disappear forever.”

Disappear forever.
The words echoing inside my mind made my gut clench—not because Kim and I were finally going to be together, but because we were going to walk away from our current lives and never look back.

Kim’s fingers slipped into mine. “Are you ready?”

I bit my lip. Was anyone ever ready to leave their life behind? I sucked in a breath and shrugged. “I guess I am. It’s not like I have a bag to pack. I don’t own anything.”

He shook his head. “You’re wrong. There are two things that belong to you—this.” He bent over and picked up my
discarded katana from the ground. After handing it to me, he took my free hand and placed a hand over his heart. “And this.”

His heart beat under my open palm, as if it wanting to leap into my hand. I swallowed, my throat suddenly tight. “That’s all I need.”

And it was.

33

K
im loaded the last duffle bag into his car and slammed
the trunk while Rosie danced around his feet. The other samurai had arrived sooner than we’d expected and now stood half-circled around us like mourners at a wake.

“Rileigh, I’m so sorry we didn’t realize Sumi was impersonating you sooner.” Michelle’s lip trembled, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

“Is that why you’re leaving?” Braden asked. “Because we failed you?”

Kim whirled around. “Of course not! No one here failed anyone. We’re leaving because it’s going to be too hard for Rileigh to remain here and be reminded of the life she no longer has. We’re off to claim a new one.”

Drew folded his arms across his chest, his lips tight.

Kim placed a hand on his arm. “Brother, this isn’t forever. Once we’re settled, we’ll let you know where we are and you can join us.”

Drew’s face softened. “Really?”

Kim smiled. “Of course. We’re family. A lifetime doesn’t change that.”

Drew looked away, and for a moment I feared that would be the end of their goodbye.

Kim must have thought so, too, because his smile dissolved. He started to turn, but Drew caught him by his arm and pulled him in for a hug, thumping his fist against his back as he did. “Brothers,” he whispered.

“Forever,” Kim agreed. He slowly pulled away. “That goes for you as well.” He cast pointed looks at Michelle and Braden.

“What about the Network?” Michelle asked. “What about our jobs as samurai?”

“We will always be samurai,” Kim answered. “The Network doesn’t determine that. Besides, I think it’s time we stop fulfilling the missions of others, and instead focus on our own mission.”

“But what’s that?” Braden asked.

Kim arched a single eyebrow. “
That
is your mission—to figure it out.”

Braden frowned. “Now you’re starting to sound like Lord Toyotomi.”

My breath caught at the mention of his name. Kim and I exchanged quick glances before both of us looked away. We hadn’t mentioned to the others that we’d seen him, and I could tell by Kim’s reaction he wasn’t eager to bring up the subject. How would they feel knowing we’d found him only to lose him again? Our first stop on our journey was to find out if he was okay. If he wasn’t … it was probably for the best the others didn’t know.

I glanced over my shoulder at the dojo. Q stood in the doorway and waved. With my throat tight, I waved back. I knew he couldn’t come out because he and Dr. Wendell were standing guard over Sumi until the Network arrived—and for that, I was glad. I could hold my emotions inside as long as there was distance between us. But if he were to come out here and put his arms around me, I was sure to fall apart.

“Rileigh?” Worry laced Michelle’s voice. “Are you okay?”

I was quiet a moment, unsure how to answer. I glanced at my reflection in the car window, still surprised to see Sumi’s face staring back at me. Would there ever be a time when I could look into a mirror and own the reflection staring back? “I hope so,” I answered. “Maybe with time.”

She nodded and opened her mouth to say something when Rosie scratched my leg and began to whimper.

Kim looked down at her and frowned. “What’s the matter, Rosie? I just took you for a walk.”

Rosie yipped and spun circles around us.

“I wonder what’s gotten into her,” Kim muttered.

No sooner had he asked the question than a yellow taxi pulled into the parking lot and stopped in front of the dojo doors.

Kim and I exchanged uneasy glances. It wasn’t like we were expecting anyone—especially not in a taxi.

The car door opened on the side farthest from us, and someone climbed out. A moment later, the door closed and the taxi pulled away, leaving its passenger behind.

My heart dropped into my knees.
No. It couldn’t be.

Yipping, Rosie bolted to Gene and spun in circles around his legs. I pressed my hand over my mouth, still not believing the sight before me.

Braden was the first to speak. “Um, do any of you know this guy?”

“Gene,” I whispered, through my fingers.

“Who?” Michelle asked.

After petting Rosie long enough to get her to stop hopping, Gene looked in our direction and smiled. “You made it! I never doubted it for a second.” With his cane poised in front of him, he made his way over to us.

“How?” Kim asked, his eyes wide. “You were horribly outnumbered.”

Gene chuckled. “A skilled warrior goes into a fight knowing his only fight is with death. An unskilled warrior goes into a fight only to win.”

“Look, I’m sorry to interrupt.” Drew narrowed his eyes. “But exactly
who
are you?”

“Ah, Seiko.” Gene reached out and clasped Drew’s arm. “Still looking out for your brother, I see.”

Drew made a choked noise and the color drained from his face.

Braden crossed his arms. “How do you know that?”

“Yeah,” Michelle added. “What’s going on?”

Gene let go of Drew and clapped his hands together. “Yorimichi and Kiyomori! How wonderful! You’re all here.”

Michelle swallowed before answering. “We are. And since you know so much about us, would you care to explain who you are?”

Gene grinned. “My dear samurai, could it be you do not remember your old master?”

Michelle gasped and Braden staggered back as if he’d been punched. Drew, on the other hand, remained motionless.

Gene rested a hand on Rosie’s head and her tongue rolled out of the side of her mouth. She sat and her tail swished the ground at his feet.

“My dear samurai,” Gene began, “while I’ve waited a lifetime for this moment, I’m afraid a proper reunion will have to wait. I’m here to help our Senshi.”

Even though I couldn’t see his eyes through the dark glasses he wore, I could feel his gaze settle on me.

“Things have not been set right,” Gene said. “I can feel it.”

I swallowed several times before my throat loosened enough to allow me to speak. “I’m so thankful you’re all right, Gene. But I’m afraid your trip here was wasted. I ran out of time. I’m … ” Emotion cracked my voice. “I’m stuck this way.”

“Hmm.” Gene frowned. He reached out and grabbed my arm and gave it a squeeze. “Maybe you are stuck this way—but maybe not.”

“No.” I gently pried my arm free from his grip. “I’m afraid it’s true. My friend Q is a healer, and he confirmed it. This is who I am now.”

Gene tilted his head down. “We’re manipulators of ki, you and I, correct?”

“I used to be,” I answered.

Gene waved my words away. “So you know better than most the true state of the spirit. It is not an immovable object but something fluid. Spirit is always moving, always flowing.”

My hands began to tremble. “What are you saying?”

He shrugged. “I’m saying this would have been no problem
if I’d reached you before your spirit rooted inside this body. Now? Things are a bit tricky. But that’s not to say it’s impossible.”

“What do you mean
tricky
?” Kim asked.

“Whatever ritual was performed, Rileigh’s spirit was severed from her body, allowing it to be moved into another. Typically when a spirit is drained from a body, the end result can be quite dangerous.”

“More than dangerous,” I added. I thought about all the times I’d used my ability to manipulate ki in battle, knowing what would happen to me if I used all of it. “It could be fatal.”

“Exactly.” Gene nodded, his lips set in a grim line. “Death is a very real possibility. But that’s where I come into play. I can use my own spirit to sustain your bodies while we attempt the switch—something that wouldn’t be possible without another ki manipulator.”

“You’re saying it’s possible?” Hope swelled inside me like helium, making me feel on the verge of floating.

“Yes,” he answered. “But I won’t lie to you. There are risks. I’ve never attempted anything like this before.”

Kim grasped my hand tightly and spun me to face him. Lines of worry creased his brow. “You don’t have to do this,” he said. “I meant it when I said I don’t care what you look like. My feelings for you will never change.”

“I know.” I squeezed his hands. “But it matters to me.” I glanced at my reflection—Sumi’s reflection—in the car window. “Any other body, and I could handle it. But to see
her
? Every day for the rest of my life?” I shook my head. “If there’s even a small chance I could get my body back—my
life
back—I have to try.”

For several heartbeats, Kim said nothing. Finally, he nodded. “If you’re sure this is what you want.”

“I’m sure.”

Kim sucked in a breath. “All right. We better hurry. The Network will be here soon, and we don’t need them interrupting us.”

Gene grinned. “And I don’t think they’re going to be too excited to see me again.”

Braden shook his head. “I still can’t believe this is happening.”

Kim met my eyes, and I silently nodded. This was the right decision. I knew there were risks, but any chance I had to get out of my enemy’s body was a chance I had to take.